CSX Hanover Subdivision 3.0

[mu26aeh]

So, I might be getting a little bit ahead of myself, but I met with a contractor today about building an addition onto my existing home.  This will move my 2 car garage from my basement to being level with my ranch style home, therefore opening up a 21'4" x 26'4" wide open space.  Probably going to be spring until ground is broke if we do anything, but I want to be ready to go as soon as I can go.  Obviously, still need to hear back about costs, get permits etc.  But I know you guys like a blank slate and would love to see what ideas you come up with.  Since I was able to tackle the helix on my last redesign, this one can also be double deck.  I have attached a drawing with current doors and sump pit location.



While talking with contractor, we discussed an interior stairway from the garage to the basement, it was initially talked about on the right hand side but thinking now might be better on the same side as the sump pit.  The stud wall could also come down, opening up the entire basement, but I don't think I would take over everything for the layout.  The other side saved for crew lounge, work area etc.  There is a 4'6" x 11'6" area on the upper right that could be used as taking the wall down would open up to the stairway that comes the upstairs.

Have fun !

[wm3798]

If only you knew someone who could help you plan a garage addition and a WM themed layout. 

Lee

[mu26aeh]

@wm3798 ,  if I need a drawing done up for the addition, you're on my short list to contact

And on the layout design, you're on my shorter list.  Once we get a little further along, I'd like to get a gathering of local a$$hats together to bounce ideas and figure a plan of attack.  Not decided yet or shown in the photo, is whether or not there will be additional basement space available under an additional bedroom being added as well, or if that will just be a crawl space.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

It's a plan.

[mu26aeh]

In order to get to the new layout, the addition needs done first.  Paging @wm3798 Please contact me at your earliest convenience concerning your addition planning skills.

[wm3798]

Here I am!

I'm pretty well booked into January, but I'm available first weekend after the 1st to come take a look at it... and maybe run a train...
I'll PM you the direct contact info to make the necessary arrangements.

Merry Christmas!
Lee

[MichaelWinicki]

This isn't your first "rodeo" so I'll keep this brief...

I'd make it big enough to make it operationally interesting, but not make it bigger for the sake of making it bigger, which I think brings diminishing returns once you figure in the additional cost in time and money.

Make it so that you can operate it on your own and enjoy it... Making it so it can accommodate a dozen operators which will only happen once in a great while may push it into the category of never getting finished.

My single room, double-deck layout took 5 years to get it to the point of being 80% complete– That's track, scenery and buildings.  But that came at a price of spending at least a 1/2 hour a day on it (or some aspect of it) virtually every day. 

Building even a medium sized pike is a grind.  You've heard the line "eyes are bigger than ones stomach" but when it comes to layouts it's more like "one's eyes are bigger than ones wallet & watch." 

[wm3798]

@MichaelWinicki , if I could upvote your post a million times I would.  There is a ton of truth in that.

It's possible to do a larger simple layout, with lots of what @Ed Kapuscinski would call "negative space", or a smaller more complex layout like mine was.  But you definitely want to avoid a soul sucking time sink that makes it impossible to enjoy the process of building the railroad.

Lee

[mu26aeh]

Well, the good thing with the Hanover Subdivision, there will never be 12 operators, at least for what I want to focus on modeling.  Sorry gang.  The prototype has a local in each direction daily, the rock runner to Baltimore, and 2 interchange trains with MMID - 1 from Baltimore and 1 from Hagerstown to Emory Grove and Highfield respectively.  So while I may expand the layout, it will probably be with more " negative space" but will also try to incorporate at least adding Gettysburg and possibly the Grit Mill which gets serviced by the Highfield turn/MMID interchange.  Of course, I could roll back time a little bit when it was still serviced by the 795/797 and would not need to include Highfield.  Time will tell, need to get the addition done first

[wm3798]

Let's get this party started!

[wazzou]

I like that you used @Ed Kapuscinski 's old layout as a backdrop.

[wm3798]

Those trees do come in handy!
I still have to put the drawings into a useful layout.. but the fun part is done!


And just look at all that tasty basement space!


I'll email the scale layouts Thursday, Adam.

Lee

[mu26aeh]

Took me a second figure out what the backdrop talk was all about.  Love it !

Awesome, guess I'd better start talking to the bank huh ?

[wm3798]

Do you want to show the garage with or without the wall down the middle?  It's non-structural and can go away or be reconfiigured if you like.

I'd be inclined to leave it in place, and make the current layout space into Family Room/Crew Lounge, the area between the steps and the wall Office/Workbench, then reserve the new space for Hagerstown to Glyndon, only this time properly done with Highfield, Jack's Mountain, and Gettysburg!

Lee

[Blazeman]

Don't forget the barking dog.